Fastening clip assembly

ABSTRACT

A fastening clip assembly is configured to secure to a component, and may include four retaining legs that are configured to directly contact portions of the component to provide four points of contact with the component, and a central pedestal including a central beam and two angled retaining beams extending from the central beam. The two angled retaining beams are configured to exert a triangular retaining force into the component.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application relates to and claims priority benefits from U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/074,745 entitled “Fastening ClipAssembly,” filed Nov. 4, 2014, which is hereby incorporated by referencein its entirety.

FIELD OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to fastening clipassemblies.

BACKGROUND

Various assemblies include panels or objects connected to one another.Automobile assemblies, for example, include various panels andstructures connected to other panels or structures, or to the automobileframe itself. In particular, snap-fit assemblies may be used to connectthe pieces together. Additionally, a fastener may be preassembled withone of the components or panels, while the second component or panel isconnected to the preassembly during final assembly. A plurality of thefasteners may be used when connecting relatively large componentstogether. Such fasteners have been provided in a variety of shapes andconfigurations suitable for the particular components to be connected.

One type of fastener used to connect components together is asymmetrical connector having an insertion portion with a W-shape.W-shape fasteners provide quick and easy assembly. Additionally, theW-shape fasteners securely retain moldings of structural panels, whilealso being relatively easy to remove.

Another type of known fastener includes opposed securing members thataxially collapse as the fastener is inserted into an opening of a panel.The axial collapsing of the opposed securing members allows the opposedsecuring members to pass through the opening.

Known fastener assemblies are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,796,006,entitled “Rib Clip,” U.S. Pat. No. 6,974,292, entitled “One-PieceReusable Plastic Fastener,” and U.S. Pat. No. 8,613,128, entitled“Push-In Fastener Assembly.”

One known fastener assembly provides a two-piece design and isconfigured for rectangular openings. Another known fastener assemblyprovides a one-piece design, but with only two points of retention.

Many known fastener assemblies include multiple pieces. Further, manyknown fasteners assemblies provide insufficient retention strength.Also, many known fastener assemblies are configured only for square orrectangular openings.

SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening clipassembly configured to secure to a component. The fastening clipassembly may include four retaining legs that are configured to directlycontact portions of the component to provide four points of contact withthe component. A central pedestal may include a central beam and twoangled retaining beams extending from the central beam. The two angledretaining beams are configured to exert a triangular retaining forceinto the component. The two angled retaining beams may form two legs ofan isosceles triangle. The four retaining legs and the central pedestalmay be integrally molded and formed together. The four retaining legsand the central pedestal may be configured to securely connect thefastening clip assembly to a round opening of the component.

The fastening clip assembly may also include a beveled lead-in noseconnected to the central pedestal. The beveled lead-in nose isconfigured to guide the fastening clip assembly into a round opening ofthe component.

Each of the four retaining legs may include a flexible root connected toan outwardly-extending angled extension beam, which, in turn, connectsto an inwardly-canted ramp. The inwardly-canted ramp is configured tocompressively abut into an internal edge of a round opening of thecomponent. The four retaining legs may be regularly spaced about acentral longitudinal axis of the fastening clip assembly.

The fastening clip assembly may include a lead-in nose and an annularcollar. In at least one embodiment, the central beam provides a bracingsupport between the lead-in nose and the annular collar. The bracingsupport resists crushing. The fastening clip assembly may also includean annular seal secured to the annular collar.

Certain embodiments of the present disclosure provide a securing systemthat may include a component having a round opening, and a fasteningclip assembly secured to the component. The fastening clip assembly mayinclude four retaining legs that directly contact portions of thecomponent proximate to the round opening to provide four points ofcontact with the component, and a central pedestal including a centralbeam and two angled retaining beams extending from the central beam. Thetwo angled retaining beams exert a triangular retaining force into thecomponent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a fastening clipassembly, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of a fastening clip assemblyhaving an annular seal, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of a fastening clip assembly, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a lateral view of a fastening clip assembly,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of a fastening clip assembly, according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective front view of a fastening clip assemblyaligned with a round opening of a panel, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective front view of a fastening clip assemblysecured to a panel, according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of a fastening clip assemblythrough line 8-8 of FIG. 5 secured to a panel, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure.

Before the embodiments of the disclosure are explained in detail, it isto be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Thedisclosure is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced orbeing carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that thephraseology and terminology used herein are for the purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of“including” and “comprising” and variations thereof is meant toencompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well asadditional items and equivalents thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening clip assemblythat may be integrally formed and molded as a single piece. Thefastening clip assembly may provide four points of retention withrespect to a component, such as a panel. Also, the fastening clipassembly provides a triangular retaining force that allows for efficientinsertion into and secure retention within a round opening of a panel.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a fastening clip assemblythat exerts a triangular retaining force into a component, such as intoa round opening of a panel. The fastening clip assembly is configured tobe retained within a round opening of a component, such as a panel. Thefastening clip assembly provides four points of retention that arestrengthened and buttressed by the triangular retaining force, therebyproviding equal retention from all directions of loading. The fasteningclip assembly may also include a central beam (such as a centralpedestal, post, or the like) that prevents crushing if the fasteningclip assembly is misaligned with an opening of a panel. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be used to attach automotive interior doorpanels to sheet metal, for example.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective front view of a fastening clip assembly100, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fasteningclip assembly 100 includes a panel-engaging retainer 102 integrallymolded and formed with an annular collar 104, which, in turn, integrallyconnects to a support base 106 through a central post 108. The fasteningclip assembly 100 may be integrally molded and formed as a single,unitary body. For example, the fastening clip assembly 100 may beintegrally molded and formed as a single piece of injection-moldedplastic.

The panel-engaging retainer 102 includes a beveled lead-in nose 110 thatis configured to guide the panel-engaging retainer 102 into around-opening of a component, such as a panel. Four retaining legs 112extend downwardly from the lead-in nose 110 and/or an end of a centralpedestal 122 at an outwardly-flared angle. Each leg 112 includes aflexible root 114 that connects to the lead-in nose 110. The root 114connects to a downwardly and outwardly angled (with the outward spreadincreasing from top towards bottom, as shown) extension beam 116, which,in turn, connects to an inwardly-canted ramp 118 at a lower distal end.The ramps 118 inwardly-cant toward a central longitudinal axis 120 ofthe fastening clip assembly 100. The four retaining legs 112 areregularly spaced about the central longitudinal axis 120 of thefastening clip assembly 100.

A central pedestal 122 extends downwardly from the lead-in nose andconnects to a center of the annular collar 104. The central pedestal 122may be centered about the longitudinal axis 120 and may generally bealigned with the central post 108.

The annular collar 104 includes a base 124 having an upstanding angledrim 126 extending upwardly and outwardly from the base 124. An annularseal may be secured to the rim 126.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective front view of the fastening clipassembly 100 having the annular seal 128, according to an embodiment ofthe present disclosure. The annular seal 128 may be formed of anelastomeric material. In at least one embodiment, the annular seal 128may be overmolded onto the rim 126. Alternatively, the fastening clipassembly 100 may not include the annular seal 128.

FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the fastening clip assembly 100,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, thecentral pedestal 122 extends from a lower interior surface of thelead-in nose 110 to the base 124 (hidden from view in FIG. 3) of thecollar 104. As such, the central pedestal 122 provides a brace thatprotects the lead-in nose 110 from collapsing towards the collar 104.The central pedestal 122 provides a bracing support that resistscrushing.

The central pedestal 122 includes a central beam 129 and two retainingbeams 130 that downwardly and outwardly cant from the central beam 129.Each of the retaining beams 130 downwardly extend from the central beam129 at an angle θ. As such, the retaining beams 130 form a triangularstructure having an apex 132 at the point where each connects to thecentral beam 129. Each of the retaining beams 130 forms a side of thetriangle, with a base of the triangle being an imaginary line 134extending between exposed distal ends 136 of the retaining beams 130.

FIG. 4 illustrates a lateral view of the fastening clip assembly 100,according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 illustratesa top view of the fastening clip assembly 100. Referring to FIGS. 4 and5, the central beam 129 and retaining beams 130 of the central pedestal122 may be exposed within gaps 138 between neighboring (that is,closest) legs 112. As shown and described, the fastening clip assembly100 may include four legs 112 regularly spaced about the centrallongitudinal axis (such that central vertical planes of neighboring legsare spaced 45° from one another), and two retaining beams 130, which maybe spaced 180° from one another).

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective front view of the fastening clipassembly 100 aligned with a round opening 200 of a panel 202, accordingto an embodiment of the present disclosure. The axial cross-sectional ofthe round opening 200 is circular. In order to connect the fasteningclip assembly 100 to the panel 202, the lead-in nose 110 is aligned withthe round opening 200. For example, the central longitudinal axis 120 ofthe fastening clip assembly 100 may be aligned with a center 204 of theround opening 200. After the fastening clip assembly 100 is aligned withthe round opening 200, the fastening clip assembly 100 is urged into theround opening in the direction of arrow 206. If the fastening clipassembly 100 is misaligned, the beveled lead-in nose 110 automaticallydirects the panel-engaging retainer into alignment, as the beveledsurfaces of the lead-in nose 110 slide over interior edges 208 of thepanel 202 that define the round opening 200.

With continued urging in the direction of arrow 206, the legs 112 slideover the interior edges 208. As the legs 112 slide over the interioredges 208, the legs 112 inwardly pivot about the roots 114, therebycompressing toward one another. With continued urging in the directionof arrow 206, the inwardly-canted ramps 118 slide over the interioredges 208, and the legs expand outwardly back towards initial positions,as the legs 114 outwardly pivot about the roots 114.

FIG. 7 illustrates a perspective front view of the fastening clipassembly 100 secured to the panel 202, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure. The fastening clip assembly 100 secured to the panel202 provides a securing system 300 that may be configured to securelyconnect another component to the panel 202. As shown, the legs 112 exerta downwardly-directed force toward a top surface 210 of the panel 202 atareas surrounding the round opening 200. In particular, the ramps 118are compressed against the interior edges 208. Outer ledges 150 of thelegs 112 combine to form an outer circumferential envelope having adiameter that is greater than the diameter of the round opening 200,thereby preventing the legs 112 from passing deeper into the roundopening 200.

The panel 202 is therefore compressively sandwiched between the ramps118 and the annular seal 128 (or, alternatively, the angled rim 126,shown in FIG. 1). The annular seal 128 abuts into a lower surface 212 ofthe panel opposite the top surface 210.

The four legs 112 provide four points of contact between the fasteningclip assembly 100 and the panel 200. In particular, the ramps 118 ofeach of the four legs 112 directly contact the interior edges 208 of theround opening 202 of the panel 200.

FIG. 8 illustrates a cross-sectional view of the fastening clip assembly100 through line 8-8 of FIG. 5 secured to the panel 202, according to anembodiment of the present disclosure. As shown, the retaining beams 130apply an outwardly angled retaining force towards the interior edges 208of the panel 200 that define the round opening 200. As shown, theretaining force exerted by the retaining beams 130 towards the interioredges 208 may be triangular. The retaining beams 130 may provide anisosceles triangle having the apex 132 at the central point ofintersection with the central beam 129, each retaining beam 130 forminga leg of the isosceles triangle, and the imaginary line 134 forming thebase of the isosceles triangle.

As an extraction force is applied in the direction of arrow 180, theretaining beams 130 exert a triangular resisting force that resists theextraction force. As such, the retaining beams 130 exert a triangularretaining force into the panel 202. The triangular retaining forceallows for a low insertion force and a high extraction force in relationto the round opening 200. As such, the fastening clip assembly 100 maybe quickly and easily secured to the panel 202, but difficult toinadvertently extract. Secure retention is achieved by the fourretention legs 112, which may equalize all angles of extraction load.

The ramps 118 provide inwardly-canted surfaces that allow for thefastening clip assembly 100 to be removed, if desired, and reused. Forexample, the ramps 118 provide smooth, angled surfaces that allow fordesired removal and reuse, in stark contrast to structures that hook orlatch onto the panel that may then snag and break when a removal forceis exerted into the fastening clip assembly.

Additionally, the central pedestal 122 protects the fastening clipassembly 100 from being crushed if the fastening clip assembly 100 ismisaligned during installation. The central pedestal 122 provides abracing support between the lead-in nose 110 and the collar 104 thatprevents, minimizes, or otherwise reduces the possibility that thefastening clip assembly 100 may be crushed or collapse upon itself.

Referring to FIGS. 1-8, embodiments of the present disclosure provide afastening clip assembly integrally formed as a single piece, whichprovides four points of retention with respect to a component (such as apanel), and which exerts a triangular retaining force into a component.The fastening clip assembly is particularly suited for insertion intoround openings.

The fastening clip assembly provides four points of retention that arestrengthened and buttressed by the triangular retaining force, therebyproviding equal retention from all directions of loading. The fasteningclip assembly may also include a central beam (such as a centralpedestal, post, or the like) that prevents crushing if the fasteningclip assembly is misaligned with an opening of a panel. Embodiments ofthe present disclosure may be used to attach automotive interior doorpanels to sheet metal, for example.

While various spatial and directional terms, such as top, bottom, lower,mid, lateral, horizontal, vertical, front and the like may be used todescribe embodiments of the present disclosure, it is understood thatsuch terms are merely used with respect to the orientations shown in thedrawings. The orientations may be inverted, rotated, or otherwisechanged, such that an upper portion is a lower portion, and vice versa,horizontal becomes vertical, and the like.

Variations and modifications of the foregoing are within the scope ofthe present disclosure. It is understood that the embodiments disclosedand defined herein extend to all alternative combinations of two or moreof the individual features mentioned or evident from the text and/ordrawings. All of these different combinations constitute variousalternative aspects of the present disclosure. The embodiments describedherein explain the best modes known for practicing the disclosure andwill enable others skilled in the art to utilize the disclosure. Theclaims are to be construed to include alternative embodiments to theextent permitted by the prior art.

To the extent used in the appended claims, the terms “including” and “inwhich” are used as the plain-English equivalents of the respective terms“comprising” and “wherein.” Moreover, to the extent used in thefollowing claims, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third,” etc. areused merely as labels, and are not intended to impose numericalrequirements on their objects. Further, the limitations of the followingclaims are not written in means-plus-function format and are notintended to be interpreted based on 35 U.S.C. § 112(f), unless and untilsuch claim limitations expressly use the phrase “means for” followed bya statement of function void of further structure.

Various features of the disclosure are set forth in the followingclaims.

1. A fastening clip assembly configured to secure to a component, thefastening clip assembly comprising: at least two retaining legs thatextend from a lead-in nose which are configured to directly contactportions of the component to provide at least two points of contact witha component; and a central pedestal that is disposed between the atleast two retaining legs, which includes a central beam that is centeredabout a longitudinal axis and two angled retaining beams that define aV-shape and extend from the central beam at a point spaced from thelead-in nose and at an angle from the longitudinal axis, wherein the twoangled retaining beams are configured to exert an outward retainingforce into the component.
 2. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1,wherein the at least two retaining legs and the central pedestal areintegrally molded and formed together.
 3. The fastening clip assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the at least two retaining legs and the centralpedestal are configured to securely connect the fastening clip assemblyto a round opening of the component.
 4. The fastening clip assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the lead-in nose is beveled and configured to guide thefastening clip assembly into a round opening of the component.
 5. Thefastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the at least tworetaining legs comprises a flexible root connected to anoutwardly-extending angled extension beam, which, in turn, connects toan inwardly-canted ramp, wherein the inwardly-canted ramp is configuredto compressively abut into an internal edge of a round opening of thecomponent.
 6. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the atleast two retaining legs comprise four retaining legs that areregularly-spaced about the longitudinal axis of the fastening clipassembly.
 7. The fastening clip assembly of claim 1 further comprisingan annular collar, wherein the central beam provides a bracing supportbetween the lead-in nose and the annular collar, wherein the bracingsupport resists crushing.
 8. The fastening clip assembly of claim 7further comprising an annular seal secured to the annular collar.
 9. Thefastening clip assembly of claim 1, wherein the two angled retainingbeams form two legs having a length that is the same.
 10. A securingsystem comprising: a component having a round opening; and a fasteningclip assembly secured to the component, the fastening clip assemblycomprising: at least two retaining legs that extend from a lead-in noseand directly contact portions of the component proximate to the roundopening to provide at least two points of contact with the component;and a central pedestal that is disposed between the at least tworetaining legs, which includes a central beam that is centered about alongitudinal axis and two angled retaining beams that define a V-shapeand extend from the central beam at a point spaced from the lead-in noseand at an angle from the longitudinal axis, wherein the two angledretaining beams exert an outward retaining force into the component. 11.The securing system of claim 10, wherein the at least two retaining legsand the central pedestal are integrally molded and formed together. 12.The securing system of claim 10, wherein the at least two retaining legsand the central pedestal securely connect the fastening clip assembly tothe round opening of the component.
 13. The securing system of claim 10,wherein the lead-in nose is beveled and connected to the centralpedestal, and wherein the lead-in nose guides the fastening clipassembly into the round opening of the component.
 14. The securingsystem of claim 10, wherein each of the at least two retaining legscomprises a flexible root connected to an outwardly-extending angledextension beam, which, in turn, connects to an inwardly-canted ramp,wherein the inwardly-canted ramp compressively abuts into an internaledge of the round opening of the component.
 15. The securing system ofclaim 10, wherein the at least two retaining legs comprise fourretaining legs that are regularly-spaced about the longitudinal axis ofthe fastening clip assembly.
 16. The securing system of claim 10,wherein the fastening clip assembly further comprises a lead-in nose andan annular collar, wherein the central beam provides a bracing supportbetween the lead-in nose and the annular collar, and wherein the bracingsupport resists crushing.
 17. The securing system of claim 16, whereinthe fastening clip assembly further comprises an annular seal secured tothe annular collar.
 18. The securing system of claim 16, wherein the twoangled retaining beams form two legs having a length that is the same.19. A fastening clip assembly configured to secure to a component, thefastening clip assembly comprising: at least two retaining legs thatextend downwardly from a lead-in nose and are configured to directlycontact portions of the component to provide at least two points ofcontact with the component, wherein each of the at least two retaininglegs comprises a flexible root connected to an outwardly-extendingangled extension beam, which, in turn, connects to an inwardly-cantedramp, wherein the inwardly-canted ramp is configured to compressivelyabut into an internal edge of a round opening of the component, whereinthe at least two retaining legs are regularly spaced about a centrallongitudinal axis of the fastening clip assembly; a central pedestalthat extends from the lead-in nose, which includes a central beam thatis centered about a longitudinal axis and two angled retaining beamsthat each define a V-shape and extend from the central beam at a pointspaced from the lead-in nose and at an angle from the longitudinal axis,wherein the two angled retaining beams form two legs having a lengththat is the same, wherein the two angled retaining beams are configuredto exert a retaining force into the component, wherein the at least tworetaining legs and the central pedestal are configured to securelyconnect the fastening clip assembly to the round opening of thecomponent; an annular collar connected to the central pedestal; and abeveled lead-in nose connected to the central pedestal, wherein thebeveled lead-in nose is configured to guide the fastening clip assemblyinto the round opening of the component, wherein the central beamprovides a bracing support between the lead-in nose and the annularcollar, wherein the bracing support resists crushing, wherein the atleast two retaining legs, the central pedestal, the annular collar, andthe beveled lead-in nose are integrally molded and formed together as asingle piece.
 20. The fastening clip assembly of claim 19, furthercomprising an annular seal secured to the annular collar.